Suspension arch, including ceramic suspension tile



Oct. 3, 1950 H, wl WEBER ErAL 2,524,721

SUSPENSION ARCH, INCLUDING CERAMIC SUSPENSION TILE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 5, 1946 Oct. 3, 1950 H. w. WEBER ETAL 2,524,721

SUSPENSION ARCH, INCLUDING CERAMIC SUSPENSION TILE Filed Sept. 5, 1946 3Sheet-S-Sheet 2 Oct. 3, 1950 H. W. WEBER ETAL SUSPENSION ARCH, INCLUDINGCERAMIC SUSPENSION TILE Filed Sept. 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HTTcpA/E#5,

jatented Oct. 3, 195() SUSPENSION ARCH, INCLUDING CERAIVHC I.

SUSPENSION TILE Herman W. Weber, Richmond Heights, and

Daniel W. Williamson, Ferguson, Mo., assignors to Laclede-ChristyCompany, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of lVlissouril ApplicationSeptember 3, 1946, Serial No. 694,560

16 Claims. l

The present invention relates generally to roof or arch constructionsfor furnaces, and more particularly to a tile suspension arch or roofVfor high temperature furnaces.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel tile suspensionarch or roof for a furnace in which high temperatures are developed suchas are encountered in the metallurgical industry, open hearth furnaces,checker chamber furnaces, and billet and slab furnaces.

Another object is to provide a novel tile suspension arch or roof for afurnace which is readily fabricated and which may be repaired with easeand rapidity.

Another object is to provide a novel tile suspension arch or roof for afurnace which incorporates castings of ordinary iron disposed out of thehigh temperature zones, thereby eliminating expensive heat resistingsupporting castings which would otherwise have to be employed and whichare prohibitive in cost.

Another object is to provide a novel tile suspension arch or roof for afurnace which is adaptable to any arch or roof shape which may berequired to span a particular chamber.

Another object is to provide novel suspension, filler and roof tiles andhanger castings which collectively comprise the present novel tilesuspension arch or roof.

Another object is to provide a novel tile suspension arch which issturdy in construction and which is formed so that any particular tilecan be reached for replacement without the necessity of dismantling thewhole arch or roof construction.

Other objects are to provide a novel. tile suspension arch which isrelatively inexpensive, which incorporates a minimum number of tileshapes, which may be readily installed with a minimum of instruction,which may be readily repaired with a minimum of instruction, which isfabricated to minimize the load of particular suspension tiles, andwhich has a long life requiring minimum maintenance.

Other objects and advantages, in addition to the foregoing, are apparentfrom the following description taken with the accompanying .drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal View through a tile suspension archor roof construction fabricated in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention, partly in elevation to more particularly disclosefeatures of the present invention;

CTI

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view taken on theline 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view taken on theline 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of a preferred form of the novelsuspension tile forming a part of the present arch construction Fig. 5is an enlarged isometric view of a novel roof tile forming a part of thepresent roof construction;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged isometric view of a novel filler tile forming partof the present roof construction; l

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan View of a novel suspension casting or bracket`forming part of the present roof construction, a portion being brokenaway to illustrate a detail thereof;

Fig'. 8 is an enlarged exploded View in plan 0f the novel suspensioncasting shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevational View of the suspension castingshown in Fig. 7, looking towards the head of the bolt;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged end elevational View of the suspension castingshown in Fig. '7, illustrating its relation to a suporting I beam and asupported suspension tile, the latter two elements being shown in crosssection;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged end View of said suspension casting; and

Fig. 12 is an isometric view of the beam clamp forming part of thepresent suspension arch.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 20indicates generally a tile suspension arch or roof formed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention. Broadly, the suspensionarch 26 includes suspension castings or bracliets 22 supported Aon Ibeams 24, suspension tiles 25 hanging from the suspension castings 22,roof tiles 23 and 36 hanging from the suspension tiles 26, filler tiles`32 supported by the roof tiles 28 and 3i?, and beam clamps 34. I beams`E and channels .3l are disposed at right angles to I beams 24, said Ibeams 36 and channels 3l being supported by vertical I beam posts 38 inthe disclosed embodiment.

Considering in detail the several elements of the present novel archconstruction 20, each suspension casting 22 comprises a pair of castmembers 46, each of which includes .a vertically disposed side portion42, horizontally disposed lugs 44 and 46, and a horizontal flange 48disposed in a plane above the plane of the lugs 44 and 46 (Figs. 7through 11). The side portion 42 is notched at each upper corner toprovide a vertical shoulder 50. The side portion 42 also includes spacedcircular openings 52 and 54 and a centrally disposed aperture 56. Theflange 48 has a sloped underface 58 to conform to the sloped inner faceof the flange of a standard I beam. The lug 44 includes a depression 60and the lug 46 a projection 62. It is clear from Fig. 7 that aprojection 62 of one cast member 40 fits into the depression '50 of theother cast member 40 when held in opposed operative relation by a bolt64 secured by a nut 66. Fig. 10 shows the relationship of the suspensioncasting 22 in respect to its supporting I beam 24 and a supportedsuspension tile 26.

The suspension tile 26 is ofY rectangular form, as is clearly shown inFig. 4, including opposed parallel side faces 68, opposed parallel endfaces and opposed parallel top and bottom faces 12 and 14, respectively.Formed integral with the suspension tile 28 and extending from each ofthe side faces 68 are ve buttons or bosses 'I6 and 18 of cylindricalform, there being two bosses 18 disposed adjacent the top face '|2 andthree bosses 'I8 disposed adjacent the bottom face '|4. The bosses 16and 'I8 may take other shapes if desired, although a circular crosssection is preferred.

Each roof tile 28 is preferably of the configuration shown in Fig. 5 andincludes a side face 80 having an upper portion 82 inwardly offset by ashoulder or shelf 84. A circular well 85 is formed in the upper portion82. An o-pposed divergent side face 86 includes an upper portion 88inwardly offset by a shoulder or shelf 90. Parallel end faces 92 and 96include a raised portion 94 and a depressed portion 98, respectively. Atop face |00 and a bottom face |02 complete the tile 28.

The roof tile 30 is basically the same as the roof tile 28, differingtherefrom only in the specic configuration required to change thedirection of the arch construction 20, which is clear from Fig. l of thedrawings.

The filler tile 32 is preferably of the configuration clearly shown inFig. 6 and includes parallel side faces |04 and |06, end faces |08 and||0 and a bottom face I |2. A displaced integral head portion ||4provides a shoulder HE adjacent the top of the side face |04 andsuspension shoulders H3, and |22 adjacent the top edges of the end faces|08 and ||0 and the side face |06, respectively. The end faces |08 and||0 converge towards the bottom face ||2, as is clear from Figs. 2 and3.

The beam clamp 34 includes two stop members `|30 held together by a bolt|32 and a nut |34,

,16 of the tile 26 being disposed in the openings 52 and 54 of the castmembers 40 of the suspensio-n castings 22. The shoulders 84 preventundue relative movement. The nut 66 is threaded onto the bolt 64 tosecure the suspension casting i 22 in place.

A roof tile 28A is disposed on `each boss 18 by means of the wells 85.Filler tiles 32 are disposed between rows of roof tiles 28, thesuspension 4 shoulders ||8 and |20 of the ller tiles 32 restd ing on theshoulders of the roof tiles 28.

Insulation |26, such as slag wool or diatomaceous earth, may be disposedon the roof tiles 28 and 30 and on the filler tiles 32. Four inches ofinsulation has been found to be adequate in installations.

Three types of refractory material to accommodate diierent types offurnaces are suitable for the suspension tiles 26, the roof tiles 28 and30 and the filler tiles 32. The tiles may be made of re clay where noslags are encountered; they maybe formed of silica to resist acid slagssuch as obtains in the glass industry; and they may be made of basicrefractory to resist basic slags, chrome or magnesite being suitablematerials, the copper industry being an example requiring basicrefractory. It is generally understood that other refractory materialsmay be used for the tiles in suspension roofs 20 employed in theabove-mentioned industries or elsewhere. I l

In a, preferred suspension roof 20 spanning a furnace in which the rooftemperature may l: 2800 F., roof tiles 28 and 30 and filler tiles 32 ofa depth of ten or twelve inches may be employed. The particulardimensions of the several tiles will, of course, depend upon theparticular furnace installation and can be readily computed by anyoneskilled in the furnace art.

It is clear from the foregoing taken with the drawings that thesuspension castings 22, as well as the I beams 24 and 30, are remotelydisposed in respect to the high heat within the furnace which thesuspension arch 20 spans. Hence, the suspension castings 22 may be madeof ordinary iron, since they are not subjected to high heat, and suchordinary iron suspension castings 20 will enjoy a long life. Expensiveheat-resisting supporting castings, which often are prohibitive, are notrequired. The same is true of the I beams 24 and 36.

It is manifest that the suspension arch or roof 20 adapts itself to anyroof shape required. In Fig. 1, the suspension arch 20 is shown adaptedto a horizontal roof portion and an inclined roof portion, which areillustrative only, since the suspension roof 20 may be conformed tosubstantially any desired inner roof contour.

The suspension arch 20 is of sturdy construction, is easy to install,and is easy to repair since any one or more ller tiles 32 may be readilyremoved to permit access to any damaged roof tiles 28 or 30, orsuspension tiles 26. Access is provided to the suspension castings 22from the exterior of the furnace since the supporting upright I beams 38and the I beams 24 and 36 are located in a factory room, or the like,free of any outside cover in a standard installation.

The novel boss or button relation of the suspension castings 22 and thesuspension tiles 26 and the roof tiles 28 and 30 facilitates theinstallation and repair of the suspension arch 20, and, hence, this bossor button relationship is an important feature of the present invention.

It is manifest, of course, that the several ele ments forming thelpresent novel suspension arch 2|] may individually take forms other thanthose `forms given by way of illustration. However, it

is preferable to use tiles of a selected shape or form in aparticularinstallation since this serves to speed up construction. Furthermore,the use ofa particular shape for a particular tile on a long range planis advantageous, since it permits stocking of the tiles, which insuresimmediate delivery to a damaged furnace for quick repair.

to the lowermost suspension castings 22 and suspended tiles which could,in some instances, reach a factor large enough to shear the bosses orotherwise damage the tiles.

It is apparent from the foregoing description taken with theaccompanying` drawings that there has been provided a suspension archwhich fuln lls all of the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is contemplated that those changes in form, rearrangement of partsand substitution of equivalents, which will be manifest to those skilledin the art, are within the scope of the present invention, the presentdescription and accompanying drawings being provided by way ofillustration and example and not for limitation, the invention beinglimited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A tile suspension arch comprising a support including structuralmembers, brackets supported by said structural members, said bracketshaving depending portions with openings therein, ce rarnic suspensiontiles including bosses, said bosses being disposed in the openings ofthe brackets, and a plurality of roof tiles supported by and dependingfrom said suspension tiles.

2. A tile suspension arch comprising a support including structuralmembers, brackets supported by said structural members, said bracketshaving depending portions with openings therein, ceramic suspensiontiles including upper and lower bosses, said upper bosses being disposedin the openings of said brackets for support of said suspension tiles,and roof tiles including wells adapted to receive the lower bosses ofsaid suspension tiles, the wells of said roof tiles being disposed aboutsaid lower bosses to support said roof tiles.

3, ln construction of the kind described, a supporting bracket having adepending portion with openings therein, a ceramic suspension tileincluding upper and lower bosses, said upper bosses being disposed inthe openings of said bracket for support of said suspension tile, androof tiles including wells adapted to receive the lower bosses of saidsuspension tile, the wells of said roof tiles l being disposed aboutsaid lower bosses to support said roof tiles.

4. In construction of the kind described, a supporting bracket having adepending portion with openings therein, a ceramic suspension tileincluding upper and lower bosses, said upper bosses being disposed inthe openings of said bracket for support of said suspension tile, rooftiles including wells adapted to receive the lower bosses of saidsuspension tile, the wells of said roof tiles being disposed about saidlower bosses to support said roof tiles, and filler tiles supported bysaid roof tiles and forming therewith a continuous furnace roof.

5. A bracket for supporting a refractory member from a structural membercomprising a pair of opposed identical bracket members, each memberincluding a side portion, a flange extending at an angle to the sideportion and adapted to engage a ange of a structural member, a pair ofspaced lugs extending from the side portion in the same direction as theflange, said lugs being in a plane below said flange, means forsupportingly engaging a suspension tile formed in the side portion, andmeans securing said bracket members together and on a structuralmember..

6. A bracket for supporting a refractory member from a structural membercomprising a pair of opposed identical bracket members, each memberincluding a side portion, a flange extending at an angle to the sideportion and adapted to engage a flange of a structural member, a pair ofspaced lugs extending from the side portion in the same direction as theflange, a projection on the free end of one lug and a depression in thefree end of the other lug, the lugs of the opposed bracket members beingin abutting relation when said bracket is in use with a projection in adepression, said lugs being in a plane below said flange, means forsupportingly engaging a suspension tile formed in the side portion, andmeans securing said bracket members together and on a structural member.

7. A bracket for supporting a refractorymem- 'oer from a structuralmember comprising a pair of opposed identical bracket members, eachmember including a side portion, a ange extending at an angle to theside portion and adatped to engage a flange 0f a structural member, apair of spaced lugs extending from the side portion in the samedirection as the flange, a projection on the free end of one l'ug and adepression in the free end of the other lug, the lugs of the opposedbracket members being in abutting relation when said bracket is in usewith a projection in a depression, said lugs being in a plane below saidflange, means for supportingly engaging a sus'- pension tile formed inthe side portion including spaced openings in said side portion disposedin symmetrical relation to said flange, and means securing said bracketmembers together and on a structural member. n

8. A tile suspension arch comprising supporting structure, bracketssuspended from said supporting structure, each bracket including spaceddepending side portions, at least two openings in each depending sideportion, a ceramic suspenn sion tile supported by each bracket, eachsuspen- I sion tile having opposed sides, at least two spaced bossesextending outwardly from both sides near the top of the tile, saidbosses being disposed in said openings in the depending portions of saidbracket for support of said suspension tile, a plurality of spacedbosses extending outwardly from said suspension tile sides below saidfirst mentioned bosses, and a roof tile supported on and depending fromeach lower boss.

9. A tile suspension arch comprising supporting structure, bracketsrigidly supported by and suspended from said supporting structure, eachbracket including spaced depending side portions, at least two openingsin each depending side poru tion, ceramic suspension tile supported byeach bracket, each suspension tile having opposed sides, at least twospaced bosses extending outwardly from both sides near the top of thetile, said bosses being disposed in said openings in the dependingportions of said bracket for substantially rigid support of saidsuspension tile, a plurality of spaced bosses extending outwardly fromsaid suspension tile sides below said first mentioned bosses, and a rooftile supported on yand depending from each lower boss.

10. A tile suspension arch comprising support-A lng structure, bracketsrigidly supported by and suspended from said supporting structure, eachbracket including spaced depending side portions, Y

at least two openings in each depending side portion, a ceramicsuspension tile supported by each bracket, each suspension tile havingopposed sides, at least two spaced bosses extending outwardly from bothsides near the top of the tile, said bosses being disposed in saidopenings in the depending portions of said bracket for substantiallyrigid support of said suspension tile, a plurality of spaced bossesextending outwardly from said suspension tile sides below said firstmentioned bosses, a roof tile supported on and depending from each lowerboss, and ller tiles supported by and between said roof tiles.

1l. A furnace arch comprising a supporting structure including flangedstructural members, brackets for supporting refractory members suspendedfrom said supporting structure, each bracket comprising a pair ofopposed identical bracket members, each member including a side portion,a flange extending at an angle to the side portion and adapted to engagea flange of a structural member, a pair of spaced lugs extending fromthe side portion in the same direction as the flange, said lugs being ina plane below said flange, means for supportingly engaging a suspensiontile formed in the side portion, means securing said bracket memberstogether and on a structural member, a suspension tile supported by thetile supporting means of each bracket, and a plurality of roof tilessupported by and depending from each suspension tile.

l2. A furnace arch comprising a supporting structure including flangedstructural members, brackets for supporting refractory members suspendedfrom s-aid supporting structure, each bracket comprising a pair ofopposed identical bracket members, each member including a side portion,a ange extending at an angle to the side portion and adapted to engage afrange of a structural member, a pair of spaced lugs extending from theside portion in the same direction as the flange, a projection on thefree end of one lug and a depression in the free end of the other lug,the lugs of the opposed bracket members being in abutting relation whensaid bracket is in use with a projection in a depression, said lugsbeing in a plane below said flange, means for supportingly engagingsuspension tile formed in the side portion, means securing said bracketmembers together and on a structural member, a suspension tile supportedby the tile supporting means of each bracket, and a plurality of rooftiles supported by and depending from each suspension tile.

13. A furnace arch comprising a supporting structure including flangedstructural members, brackets for supporting refractory members suspendedfrom said supporting structure, each bracket comprising a pair ofopposed identical bracket members, each member including a side portion,a flange extending at an angle to the side portion and adapted to engagea flange of a structural member, a pair of spaced lugs extending fromthe side portion in the same direction as the flange, a projection onthe free end of one lug and a depression in the free end of the otherlug, the lugs of the opposed bracket members being in abutting relationwhen said bracket is in use 'with a projection in a depression, saidlugs being in a plane below said flange, means for supportingly engaginga suspension tile formed in the side portion including spaced openingsin said side portion disposed in symmetrical relation to said flange,means securing said bracket members together and on a structural member,suspension tiles supported by said brackets, each suspension tileincluding opposed outwardly extending bosses supportingly occupying saidspaced openings in said side portions of said supporting bracket, and aplurality of roof tiles supported by and depending from each suspensiontile.

14. A furnace arch comprising a supporting structure including flangedstructural members, brackets for supporting refractory members suspendedfrom said supporting structure, each bracket comprising a pair ofopposed identical bracket members, each member including a side portion,a flange extending at an angle to the side portion and adapted to engagea flange of a structural member, a pair of spaced lugs extending fromthe side portion in the same direction as the flange, a projection onthe free end of one lug and a depression in the free end of the otherlug, the lugs of the opposed bracket members being in abutting relationwhen said bracket is in use with a projection in a depression, said lugsbeing in a plane below said flange, means for supportingly engaging asuspension tile formed in the side portion including spaced openings insaid side portion disposed in symmetrical relation to said flange, meanssecuring said bracket members together and on a structural member,suspension tiles supported by said brackets, each suspension tileincluding opposed outwardly extending bosses supportingly occupying saidspaced openings in said side portions of said supporting bracket, eachsuspension tile having a plurality of spaced opposed bosses extendingoutwardly therefrom below said rst mentioned bosses, and a roof tilesupported on each of said lower bosses and depending therefrom, eachroof tile having a well receiving the respective boss.

'15. A furnace arch comprising a supporting structure including flangedstructuralmembers, brackets for supporting refractory members suspendedfrom said supporting structure, each bracket comprising a pair ofopposed identical bracket members, each member including a side portion,a flange extending at an angle to the side portion and adapted to engagea flange of a structural member, a pair of spaced lugs extending fromthe side portion in the same direction as the flange, said lugs being ina plane below said flange, means for supportingly engaging a suspensiontile formed in the side portion, means securing said bracket memberstogether and on a structural member, at least two openings in eachdepending side portion, a suspension tile supported by each bracket,each suspension tile having opposed sides, at least two spaced bossesextending outwardly from both sides near the top of the tile, saidbosses being disposed in said openings in the depending portions of Saidbracket for support of said suspension tile, a plurality of spacedbosses extending outwardly from said suspension tile sides below saidfirst mentioned bosses, and a roof tile supported on and depending fromeach lower boss.

16. A furnace arch comprising a supporting structure including flangedstructural members, brackets for supporting refractory members suspendedfrom said supporting structure, each bracket comprising a pair ofopposed identical bracket members, each member including a side portion,a flange extending at an angle to the side portion and adapted to engagea flange of a structural member, a pair of spaced lugs extending fromthe side portion in the same direction as the flange, a projection onthe free end of one lug and a depression in the free end of the otherlug, the lugs of the opposed bracket members being in abutting relationwhen said bracket is in use with a projection in a depression, said lugsbeing in a plane below said flange, means for supportingly engaging asuspension tile formed in the side portion, means securing said bracketmembers together and on a structural member, at least two openings ineach depending side portion, a suspension tile supported by eachbracket, each suspension tile having opposed sides, at least two spacedbosses extending outwardly from both sides near the top of the tile,said bosses being disposed in said openings in the depending portions ofsaid bracket for support of said suspension tile, a plurality of spacedbosses extending outwardly from said suspension tile sides below saidrst mentioned bosses, and a roof tile supported on and depending fromeach lower boss.

HERMAN W. WEBER. DANIEL W. WILLIAMSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

